DOZENS of new homes could soon be built on the site of a Bridgwater wedding venue near the M5.
Persimmon Homes Severn Valley and Hallam Land Management have put forward joint plans to build 77 homes on the site currently occupied by the Sydenham Barn wedding venue on the town’s eastern edge.
The plans form part of a larger development which will deliver up to 2,000 homes on land between the Willow Man sculpture and the A39 Bath Road.
Sedgemoor District Council is expected to make a decision on the latest plans over the summer.
The two developers were awarded outline planning permission by the council in July 2020 to deliver up to 2,000 homes between Bath Road and the Bristol and Exeter railway line – along with 1,200 sq m of retail space, leisure facilities, a new primary school and other facilities.
The site covered by this most recent application excludes the land nearest the motorway, which will be developed in a future phase, but includes the wedding venue and a number of the surrounding buildings.
Reviews left on the company’s social media profiles have claimed that the venue will cease trading at the end of May – but this has not been officially confirmed by the business’s owners, and its website remains up and running.
The developer has not confirmed how many of the new homes within the site will be affordable properties.
Access will be achieved through Agusta Drive, with a further access being added from King’s Drive at a later date.
Shannon Ohren, who lives on Pearl Close less than a mile from the site, said more work was needed by developers to protect local wildlife as new homes were being delivered.
She said: “A huge number of homes and developments have been building within this area with very little concern for the environment and local wildlife.
“There are no plans to create any form of nature reserves or helping to protect, let along encourage our local wildlife.”
These plans come shortly after the council approves detailed plans for 80 low-cost homes on King’s Road in Bridgwater, with £15M of funding being provided through Vistry Partnership and Homes England.
The council is expected to make a decision on the Sydenham Barn plans later in the summer.
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